"Four people were killed and 22 others wounded by mortars launched by terrorists against the business district of Shaalan," reported SANA, referring to the opposition as "terrorists."

Since Assad's re-election in early June, more than 743 civilians, including 197 children, have been killed from regime raids, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 2,400 have been wounded in rebel-held areas, added the Observatory.